What is The Automata Wars? Have you ever asked yourself precisely this question? And if not, why not? Well, whether you have or not, you need fret no longer as the answers are right here...

So there you have it! Volume 1 of The Automata Wars, The Home Front, is, of course, available not only in paperback but also as a digital download from Amazon at the price of £2.59; Volume 2, The Front Line is currently only available in paperback but will also be released in digital format later this year.

Of course, the easiest way to get your hands on a paperback copy is to buy it at any of the events that either I or The Automata Wars Publisher, The Last Line, is attending this year. Next up, I'll be at Steampunk at the Commandery in Worcester, May 4th & 5th. As well as books being available, Steven C. Davis and I will also be running one of our workshops - 'The Hobbit: Steampunked' - not once, but twice on May 5th, so do come along to see what a couple of *tiny tiny* changes can do to a story...

After that you can catch us as Steampunk Doncaster on 21-22 July (more workshops, and also readings!), plus other events to be announced soon(ish).The concluding volume of The Automata Wars will be available next year. Watch out - remember, they walk amongst you...

So, chocolate eggs were hunted and later consumed. Chocolate bunnies were nibbled away. Presumably even chocolate chickens got in on the consuming act somewhere...And Sunday 20th April saw a couple of non-chocolate related milestones: A GASP radio 8hr special, raising awareness of the charity New Futures Nepal; and the release of a 22 track charity download raising funds for the same. You may have read about the download in last week's guest blog from GASP host Steven C. Davis; it has now gone live and is available via the link above - only £5!

Your GASP hosts

Steven and I co-hosted the 8 hour special, with a live facebook event running concurrently. Apart from minor details, like trying to schedule in food around the event, it all went really well. A couple of unplanned glitches meant that we lost a part of hour six, and ended up overrunning slightly by the end of hour 8, but apart from that, the music was fantastic, and the company divine - thank you to all who dipped into the event at some point, and particular thanks to all those stalwarts who stayed with us for the entire event - virtual chocolate all round! (Not to mention the virtual kazoo and air guitars)Photo courtesy NevermindtheCogs

The event had another first - the first showing of Arthur 'NevermindtheCogs''s video album from 'Steampunk at the Griffin', which Arthur kindly gave us permission to air before he uploaded to youtube. Arthur is a regular at steampunk events, and never fails to deliver some fantastic images at the end - see picture above; and see video below...

The GASP radio show will, of course, continue with its regular Tuesday night slot and accompanying facebook event; and we very much hope that the recent sound outages are now a thing of the past. Please do take a listen - we're sure you'll hear something that you like (and the virtual chocolate may make another virtual appearance...)What's next? Well, Steampunk at the Commandery in only two weeks; then more events at Steampunk Doncaster, and a possible reappearance at Dudley also on the cards... plus, Volume 2 of The Automata Wars, The Front Line, will be available in digital format for the first time very, very soon... keep watching the aether for the signs; world domination is only a virtual chocolate away (maybe)...

You may - or may not - remember that in September last year, the Raising Steam festival was due to take place. The brainchild of my oft-time collaborator and GASP radio show host Steven C. Davis, this two day event aimed to raise funds for Steven's chosen charity, New Futures Nepal, providing support for deprived children and adults in Nepal. Not one, not two, but ELEVEN bands, Crimson Clocks amongst them, were due to take the stageSadly.... the festival was cancelled: in Steven's own words, 'the universe couldn't allow this much awesomeness to take place'. But all was not lost; and Steven was still determined to do something for New Futures Nepal. With support from all eleven acts, here's Steven to tell you what's happening now...

Launching on Easter Sunday 20th April, like a phoenix out of the abandoned chocolate egg wrappers, comes Raising Steam (facebook virtual launch event here). Raising Steam is a download, available through bandcamp, a music site, raising funds for New Futures Nepal, and costing you only £5 for the whole album, or 50p a track. The roll call of bands – oh, my friends, the musicians who have generously donated their creativity for nothing is awe-inspiring. For a mere £5, you can download 2 tracks each from: The Mechanisms, Miss Von Trapp, Tom Slatter, Thy Last Drop, Birthrite, Gladstone, The Mysterious Freakshow, Helicopter Quartet, Metropolis, Montague Jacques Fromage and Crimson Clocks.

Crimson Clocks

My lords, ladies ... and all of you in the cheap seats down the front; let me take a moment of your time – ah, captured it, that’s a tiny piece of your soul I have now, thank you very much. Never fear, now I have your attention, I have something far shinier to offer you – in return for a mere £5. For this 5ive pounds I shall send you electronically, or perhaps aethernetically, songs by 11 artists and bands that you should already be aware of, but which may be absent from your musical collection. These are not suitable for playing on gramophones, but must be played in the style of the 21st Century.

The Mechanisms

Thy Last Drop

Thank you to all the bands for their generosity and you, reader of this blog, for reading this. Treat yourself. Go on, treat yourself, you know you want to. It’s only five pounds, and all for charity ... Thanks to LM Cooke for letting me take over her blog site Steven C. Davis.GASP Radio host & authorwww.TenebrousTexts.com

22 tracks from 11 splendiferous artists (including, The Mechanisms and Thy Last Drop pictured above, and of course, me (or Crimson Clocks to be accurate)!), for a paltry fiver! It's a steaming steal, that's what it is. If you join the virtual launch facebook event, then on Sunday 20th of April you will learn the web address so that you can access the glorious sounds, and not only allow the Raising Steam festival to virtually resurrect; but also help out a deserving cause! May the steam be with you...

And yet another splendid event, with yet another splendid group of people, in An introduction to Steampunk in Reading, last Saturday night in, of course, Reading, Berkshire.Oxfam Books Reading generously agreed to provide a venue for the event after opening hours, with volunteers and shop manager all providing significant support; and of course Reading Steampunks played host and provided a packed programme of events.First up was tea duelling, which was sufficiently exciting to attract at least one passerby who, even though he was on his way elsewhere, just had to know what was going on. Tea Meistress Michelle arbitrated as, facing off over a higher-than-usual platform, the duellists continued until only one was left - Mr Eric T. Paradigm emerged victorious.

Next up was the Attaknid demonstration, with no less than a lady attaknid on the table. A rubber alien was soon despatched with the Attaknid's weaponry; later the Attaknid tried on a natty bowler.

And finally, Mr Steven C. Davis and I helped the attendees to 'retell' The Hobbit - steampunk style! The dwarves ran a gauntlet from Automatrolls to Victorian villainous orcs - all without the use of axe or bow - or even lady elves.A very good night, and I definitely overheard plotting on the way out - sounds like more is afoot, with potential for at least one if not two brand new activities taking place (shh! But you heard it here first). Thanks to Reading steampunks and especially Steven for inviting me, and to everyone for taking part and making it an excellent evening. Encore! Encore!

A most excellent time was had by all at The Griffin, Dudley, for what we hope will be the first of many steampunk nights, organised by Craig and 'SparklesbyGem' Gemma. Dudley is pretty much local for us - but Crimson Clocks had never played there before, and we're glad to say that we seemed to go down very well with steampunks and non-steampunks alike! The venue was compact but elegant; the guests equally elegant; the wares exquisite; and the company, of course, superb.

A view of the stalls

bassist/ guitarist Colin Crimson

Crimson Clocks in action

violinist/ oboist/ bassist Jo Crimson

intrepid tog & author Steven C. Davis

Drummist/ Webmeisterist Steve Crimson

As well as performing with Crimson Clocks, I was also there with Steven C. Davis and our books, alongside other traders SparklesbyGem and Steampunk Relics; and other superlative entertainment was also provided by Birthrite and the lovely burlesque Steam tease. We very much hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as we did; and we can't wait for the next one!

Me, overacting again...

The most excellent Birthrite

The lovely Steam Tease

Next weekend, of course, is the Introduction to Steampunks in Reading event, which we hope will be equally successful - look out for photos from that next week. Or better yet - why not come along? Attaknids, tea duelling, and a chance to re-write The Hobbit - steampunk style... oh yes, indeed, hope to see you there!

Author

I'm a writer of steampunk/ fantasy fiction, singer/musician and writer at LM Cooke Music, singer in the parody band Mediaeval Biaetches, occasional historian, and co-presenter of the Gothic Alternative Steampunk and Progressive web radio show. Here I will ramble vaguely about stuff. Friends, countrymen, and people who aren't countrymen, lend me your ears...